REVEALED: What we're using the web for this Christmas

by ssellen

Shakira Sellen
Journalist

I moved to Mackay in 2011 and haven’t looked back since.
I’ve grown to enjoy the laidback Mackay lifestyle and all it has to offer.
Over the years I have also spent time visiting the Whitsundays and my favourite place to date would be Whitehaven Beach.
Being on the go all the time in a fast-paced job I also can’t go past a good cup of coffee.
When it comes to writing, I love to meet residents in the community and find about their life as I feel everyone has an interesting story to tell.

KEEPING in touch with loved ones and impressing dinner guests with new recipes are two reasons internet usage is expected to increase this month.

NBN's Season of Connectivity Report revealed fast broadband in Aussie households is allowing people to operate the latest smart home gadgets, connect with loved ones and enhance festive traditions like never before.

The report showed Australians are set to have their most connected holiday season, with internet usage expected to surge by 30% this month compared with the same time last year.

Key findings from the research:

Giving the gift of presence: Spending time with family and friends topped the list as the most important part of the festive season, with the majority of Australians (84%) ranking it their key priority over the holiday period. One-third of Aussies (33%) indicated they would use video calling or video chat applications to connect with loved ones who can't attend festive celebrations with more than half (54%) planning to share holiday messages, video and images on social media.

Internet helping to reduce holiday stress: Almost half of Australians (45%) will use the internet to find ways to help them reduce stress over the holiday period. Millennials are forging the way for a connected holiday season and are three times more likely to use the internet to help them plan the perfect festive gathering than their grandparents (59% vs 19% Baby Boomers).

Perfecting the festive feast online: Traditional Aussie prawns, ham and pavlova won't cut it this year, with almost half of those surveyed (44%) planning to use the internet to stream video tutorials to help them prepare new recipes and holiday meals. Australians are also planning to skip the queue at shopping centres by buying their holiday groceries online (31%).

Stockings full of connectivity: One in five Australians (20%) are expected to buy a gadget or internet connected device for a family member or loved one this year. Experts predict gaming consoles, Virtual Reality headsets and drones to be among the top tech gifts in 2016.

"Increasing access to fast broadband via the NBN network and new technologies are redefining how we plan, entertain and gift during the festive season," Digital Technology Futurist, Chris Riddell said.

"In the past, being connected during the holiday season meant physically having to travel to be together. Technology has broken down the limitations of time and distance by allowing us to connect with friends and family from the comfort of our own home, allowing us to avoid missing out on precious memories.

"Time-poor Aussies are also turning to tech to help them discover new ways of preparing for the festive season by streaming video tutorials and avoid the mad shopping rush by buying their holiday groceries online."